These Winter Face Masks Will Rescue Your Skin in Just One Sitting

Not all heroes wear capes—in fact, the hero in this rescue mission is a winter face mask. Between the bitter cool air outside and the drying artificial heat inside, our skin just can't catch a break this time of year. So to find out how to restore our thirsty skin and prepare it for the rest of the season, we tapped dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. First, she pointed the environmental reasons behind this change: "Low humidity levels degrade the skin's natural moisture barrier, which can lead to flaking, cracking and peeling," she explains. "Since there's less moisture in the air, water in your skin evaporates more quickly than in humid months."

Dr. Engleman then goes on to describe the most common skin woes in the winter, which include dry skin and problems that persist as a result of it, including redness, acne, fine lines, dullness, and uneven tone. Since we can't control the forecast, the solution lies in combating this loss by giving our skin extra moisture vis-à-vis at-home treatments during our regular skincare routines. And since not all skin masks are made the same, it can be hard to find which ones are actually best for a specific season and skin type. Read on to learn how to navigate the plethora of options out there, and then shop the best winter face masks to rescue thirsty skin in as little as 15 minutes.

The bases of charcoal and clay masks are made with organic materials used to absorb excess oils and impurities, says Dr. Engleman. These are some of the most popular (and photogenic) face masks. There are a bunch of subvarieties within this variety of face mask, but in the winter, it's especially important to opt for a more gentle version that won't strip your skin of natural oils while clearing out buildup and debris.

"Skin regeneration is at its height between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.," says Dr. Engleman. "When the body is in a deep, restful sleep, the skin's metabolism increases, and cell turnover and renewal escalates." And that's why sleeping packs and overnight masks are the "holy grails" for people with dry skin, as the body's hydration rebalances while you're sleeping. Basically, serums and creams create a permeable seal on top of your skin, and then the overnight mask ensures you don't lose water while you sleep. Dr. Engleman says they're also great for issues that would need a bit more work like fine lines and wrinkles, or sustained results.

Best For: Gently restoring deep hydration and maintaining moisture

In-Shower Mask

This is the ideal mask if you have zero time for a post-shower mask, our expert tells us. If the goal is to create a hydrating barrier to brighten, soften, and smooth skin, she notes, it probably won't work miracles—"but a little goes a long way when you have dry skin." In other words, a rushed hydrating mask it's better than no mask. Just make sure you still apply it to clean skin.

Best For: Dull, thirsty skin on super-busy days

Sheet Masks

Sheet masks infused with nourishing ingredients that transfer to your skin, making them another ideal choice for anyone prone to dryness. While there are a ton of different types, Dr. Engleman loves hydro-gel and bio-cellulose masks, followed by pulp and fiber masks. If you've never heard of bio-cellulose, she explains that it's a plant-based material that's also used as artificial skin to heal and soothe burns, occlusive dressings to treat chronic wounds, [and] in micro-surgeries as molding for artificial blood vessels, and plastic and reconstructive surgeries. All this is to say that masks with bio-cellulose properties are super effective for deep hydration.

Best For: Intense, restorative hydration in less time than an overnight mask

Exfoliating Masks

Even though exfoliating has a reputation for being drying, a lot of exfoliating masks are actually highly effective in the winter time. As Dr. Engleman explains, this is because a buildup of dry skin can create a barrier that prevents your skin from absorbing hydration, moisture, and nutrients—no matter how much moisturizer you pile on. So a gel or cream-based gentle exfoliating mask can help remove that barrier. Dr. Engleman says to look out for good ingredients like glycolic acid or lactic acid; they tend to be more gentle than some of the abrasive manual scrubs and powder-to-foam options. She also recommends switching from gel-like masks to creamier, thicker consistencies in the winter; they allow you to leave the product on for a while longer.

"I like BioEffect EGF eye mask treatment, which contains plant-based epidermal growth factors that promote collagen production. These targeted products are great for areas that need a bit more TLC like the thin skin around the eye area," says Dr. Engleman.

This mask is truly transformative and even earned a nickname as "the red carpet facial." With potent high-ingredients that only need about 15 minutes to be absorbed by the skin, you'll notice a dramatic difference.

Containing 25% AHA and 2% BHA, this exfoliating gel mask is truly an at-home facial. It removes built-up dead skin cells by breaking down the substance that holds them to the surface so your skin really does feel baby-soft after 20 minutes of use.

Not only is this face mask incredibly photogenic, but it's also effective. Light an breathable, you can leave it on as you sleep to refresh, hydrates, smooth, and perfect your skin without doing any damage to your pillow.

Dr. Engleman recommends this overnight winter face mask thanks to its ingredient list—there's glycerin to trap water as well as hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. The main ingredient, camellia japonica flower extract, is a super-powerful antioxidant.